― Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Who knows why I run?

I say I run because I can, and I mean that. But there had to be something else going on ten years ago when I decided to become a runner.

I started out jogging around the neighborhood, then moved up to 5k road races, which led to 10k races, which led to running the 7.1 Mile Falmouth Road Race six times, which led to running Half-Marathons for the past four years. I guess you are never too old to start?

What could be the next challenge you ask, but might be afraid to do so? Read on to see.

When I was a little boy, I used to go the Patriots Day game at Fenway Park that started at 10 in the morning so that the fans could leave the park and head two blocks to Kenmore Square to watch the Boston Marathon Runners come through on their way to the finish line about a mile away.

When I told myself that running in that famous race, at my advanced age, would be a cool thing to do, I quickly dismissed a full marathon race as way, way over the famous Brave-Stupid line I hug. But, as I ran and trained and ran and trained, the thought kept coming back to me.

When I told my trainer, Sarah, about the idea almost three years ago that I was thinking about running a full marathon, she said: "What took you?"

When I told my family, they said: "No way, too far to run."

When I told myself not be disappointed, but to think of all the pain I would be saving myself, I recovered from the disappointment. Almost. Why not?

When the Boston Marathon announced they would have a 'virtual' element this year, a solution found me: I could run the Virtual Boston Marathon, the full 26.2 miles, but I could do it by running laps somewhere, so that every lap as I passed by my personal 'aid station' I could rest, change shoes, take a nap, use the restroom, be checked by a medical professional, etc.

Notice I said 'entrant,' because entering and finishing are two different things. I am going to enter, and train my ass off so that I can finish, but, as with anything never done before, there is still a lot of work to do. So far this year, I've run almost 200 miles in training. But before October 10, I have at least 300 more to go. (Isn't there a song about 500 miles?)

As a pathological planner, I have also designed a custom course. I am going to run around the outside of Fenway Park. Ipswich Street, Van Ness Street, Jersey Street, Brookline Ave, and Lansdowne Street with a base station on the patio at Loretta's Last Call, where there will be a party (if and) when I finish the 47 laps it will take to reach 26.2 miles. 47 laps? Why not?

As part of the effort, my goal is to raise $10,000 to support the Bruins Foundation. It is an organization that was extremely generous to the non-profit that I managed for almost 15 years, investing thousands of dollars, through sponsorships, raffles and individual gifts for the cause of healthy moms and babies.

Not only that, but CEO Charlie Jacobs, General Manager Don Sweeney and his wife Christine, as well as Foundation President Bob Sweeney and the head of Community Relations, Kerry Collins, all devoted time, treasure and talent to the cause.

Running for the Bruins Foundation is a way of giving back to an organization that does great work, led by great people.

I've started my fundraising with a $1,000 personal donation, and hope that some readers will want to support the fundraising efforts of an old guy running 47 laps around Fenway Park. There is a link here to the web site that tracks donations.

You're not old, Ed, you might say. Well, this week I hit the big 7-0. That's right, I turned 70 years old this week, and this attempt will officially and permanently label me Brave or Stupid and end the debate. 47 laps at 70 years old? Why not?

Should you choose to support this effort, by donating or praying for me, there are all kinds of benefits.

How do you prepare for a Marathon? Here's my plan:

So, it must be the time to do it.

Did I mention that I turned 70 years old this week? It isn't a dream come true to try this, it is a dream about living life to the fullest. And about the Brave-Stupid line.

47 laps at 70? Why not?

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